Insider: Time to put respect on the names of the Colts' defensive playmakers

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore (23) and his teammates celebrate his interception in the first half of their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

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Enough of the backhanded compliments handed out to his Colts defense, enough of the talk that his defense is doing more with less, enough of the surprise that this Indianapolis defense has been able to accomplish so much without a household name — though rookie rising star Darius Leonard is beginning to build his name around the league.

Reich understands the narrative. Understands that a lot of the key players on his defense opened this season as little-known quantities, a group of players without much of the classic pedigree.

But this Colts defense has spent an entire season proving the worth of its playmakers.

“You hear people say we don’t have a bunch of Pro Bowl defensive players, a ‘big-name’ player,” Reich said. “I don’t know about all that. All I know is we have good players.”

A shortage of famous names on the roster has pushed most of the credit for the Colts’ defensive turnaround to coordinator Matt Eberflus, who has done a fantastic job in leading Indianapolis from the 30th-ranked scoring defense in the NFL just a season ago to the top 10.

That’s why Eberflus was interviewed by the Cleveland Browns for their vacant head coaching position on Sunday, even though his first year as an NFL defensive coordinator isn’t quite finished yet.

“Matt has done a phenomenal job,” Reich said. It just takes time to develop the culture and the mentality and the execution.”

Eberflus and the rest of the coaches that make up the Tampa-2 coaching tree would also be quick to point out the system won’t be as effective without the right talent in the right positions, and general manager Chris Ballard has found a lot of players who may not have earned a first-round grade on Mel Kiper’s board, but they’re getting it done for the Colts this season.

“We have good players,” Reich said. “You can have a great scheme, but if you don’t have good players, it doesn’t matter.”

Evidence was all over the field in the Colts’ wild-card shutdown with the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) reaches over the goal line for a touchdown as Houston Texans free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) attempts to stop him in the first half of their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) celebrates his touchdown in the first half of their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore (23) and his teammates celebrate his interception in the first half of their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore (23) and his teammates celebrate his interception in the first half of their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) fights to control the ball but fails to come up with this touchdown catch during their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) fights to control the ball but fails to come up with this touchdown catch during their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts strong safety Mike Mitchell (34) is helped off the field following an injury during their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Houston Texans 21-7 Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron (85) cradles the football like a baby following his touchdown during their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Ebron became a father for the second time earlier in the week. The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Houston Texans 21-7 Matt Kryger/IndyStar

There was Leonard, the small-school product and the fifth linebacker taken off the board last April, racking up 13 tackles and ranging all over the field against the speed of Deshaun Watson. Leonard is the Colts’ budding star, a player who was passed over for the Pro Bowl but honored as an All-Pro, a far more prestigious honor and a sign that the Pro Bowl snub was no sign of what the NFL actually thinks of its leading tackler.

Names like those are all over the Colts’ defense. Middle linebacker Anthony Walker is a fifth-round pick who barely played as a rookie. Defensive tackle Denico Autry, who led the Colts with nine sacks, could be had for relatively little in free agency. Defensive end Jabaal Sheard is perpetually underrated.

It’s time to adjust the ratings.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore (23) and his teammates celebrate his interception in the first half of their AFC Wild Card playoff game at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX., on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

Once Indianapolis got the lead on Saturday, the Colts offense had no doubts about whether the defense could hold it.

“The defense is playing like its hair is on fire,” Colts running back Nyheim Hines said.

All of this Indianapolis talent is about to be tested in ways it rarely has been this season.

The Colts’ reward for shutting down the Texans is a date with the NFL’s best and most consistent offense, a Kansas City Chiefs unit led by the frontrunner for the NFL’s MVP award, quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Indianapolis rarely faced the league’s elite passers this season. The Colts’ schedule was instead full of the NFL’s top running backs, playing into the hands of a top-10 run defense that still hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher.

With Mahomes under center and Kareem Hunt out of the NFL, the Chiefs are the opposite. While Kansas City can run the ball effectively — the Chiefs ranked sixth in the league in yards per carry — Andy Reid’s offense uses the run as a change of pace; Kansas City tied for just 23rd the NFL in rushing attempts this season.

That’s because of the brilliance of Mahomes, who became just the third quarterback in history to throw 50 touchdown passes in a season and led the NFL in throws that looked somewhat superhuman.

With Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and others at his disposal, Reid unleashed Mahomes on an unsuspecting NFL and created an offense that scored more than 26 points in every single game this season.

“He’s been very good at being creative, using the weapons they have,” Reich said. “And they do have great weapons, spread the ball around, and having a quarterback like that who’s a playmaker, he’s had a tremendous year.”

Reich’s defense might not have the same number of household names as the Chiefs offense it will face Saturday.